I don’t really have that much to say about the OJ Mayo controversy besides this sentiment from Tony Kornheiser today: “The USC program needs to be blown up.” Between Reggie Bush and now this, USC has huge NCAA problems. In short, Mayo is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from a marketing firm that began representing him the moment he left USC for the NBA Draft. Kornheiser, as usual, is completely correct. In the past 3 years, two major USC star athletes have been accused of (with minimal evidence supporting an alternative conclusion) accepting an exorbitant amount of money from people who would become their legal representation as professional athletes. And while the NCAA does use these same athletes to make money for themselves, it is completely illegal for the athletes to make money for themselves and they should be punished accordingly. I don’t blame OJ Mayo for accepting money that was thrown at him. But he knew that what was happening was against the rules. He and USC should have to live with those consequences.

In an act of complete disclosure, the only sports I watched this weekend were a few innings of Saturday’s Yankees/Tigers game and the 4th quarter of Saturday’s Celtics game. This is because I was in the beautiful state of North Carolina. I did not make it home in time for any real part of the Hornets/Spurs game last night because it was drizzling lightly up Interstates 85 and 95. And by “drizzling lightly” I of course mean that God was pouring buckets of water onto the state of Virginia. With that said, I don’t have any real analysis of this weekend, but five thoughts:

1.) So we can book Detroit and Pittsburgh for the Stanley Cup Finals, right?

2.) Utah can beat the Lakers in their series. I’m kind of shocked.

3.) Sam Cassell needs to be attacked by a group of rabid badgers before tonight’s game so Eddie House can get some minutes. Accordingly, I’d like Doc Rivers to try and help “Sam I Am” with the badgers. That way Tom Thibodeau can start his tenure as coach of the Celtics.

4.) I guess San Antonio isn’t quite done winning games yet. Darn.

5.) I think Detroit and Orlando are playing a playoff series. I’m going to need to check on that though. Is there anyone outside of Central Florida or Michigan that cares one iota about these teams or this series? The series is getting about as much pub as Chandra Levy is at the moment.

On to today’s feature:

Saturday, I got to return to my Mecca: Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was just as I had left it in February, though this time, I got to sit on the floor for the Duke Business School commencement ceremony. There was no Coach K. No DeMarcus Nelson. No Cameron Crazies. There was, however, the aura that is Cameron. This got me to thinking two things:

1.) I’m so lucky to have ever gotten to step foot inside this building once, nevermind 3 times. And

2.) What are the other Sports Meccas in America? And will I ever get to see them?

With that said, here is my top 10 list of “Meccas” or “Havens” (for the religiously sensitive) in use in the United States of America today:

10. Cameron Indoor Stadium: Maybe I’m biased and I probably am, but you don’t really get it until you’re there. On my list, Cameron beat out Daytona International Speedway, another venue I have been to, albeit not on race day. If I compare my visits to both, when no sporting events were happening, Cameron’s aura wins out over Daytona’s legacy. The feeling I got when I walked onto the Coach K court on a September morning was more overwhelming than the feeling I got when entering the track at Daytona. Duke is to college basketball what the Yankees are to professional baseball. They’re the glamor franchise. The difference is that Duke plays inside of what is nothing more than a church with a basketball court. And to me, it feels like a church.

9. Notre Dame Stadium: The similarities between Duke basketball and Notre Dame football are known and overstated in American college sports. Both are either loved or hated. There’s no in between. I’ll never love ND football like I love Duke basketball, but I’ll always root for Notre Dame. I have been on the Notre Dame campus and seen the stadium, but I did not get to enter. There is nothing glamorous about the aesthetics of Notre Dame Stadium. It’s what has happened there and the legacy of Notre Dame football that is what makes Notre Dame Stadium a Mecca. The Chance I will Ever See A Game at Notre Dame Stadium: Not Very Good. Almost impossible.

8. Churchill Downs: As I wrote last week, horse racing is one of those sports that only matters once a year, usually. And everytime it has really mattered, it has been at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Of all of the venue you will see here, Churchill is the one I know the least about, but it is important enough that I both thought about it and ranked it higher than Cameron Indoor and Notre Dame Stadium. The Chance I Will Ever See the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs: 0%

7. Indianapolis Motor Speedway: I was always envious of the fact that my grandmother, who doesn’t know the difference between a piston and a pedal, once attended the Indy 500 when she and my grandfather lived in Indianapolis. I’ve always preferred Stock Car racing to Open Wheel racing, but, again…a word you’ll hear a lot on this list…mystique. The Chance I will Ever See the Indy 500 at IMS: 0%

6. Madison Square Garden: I’m putting MSG on the list for basketball. So much history has happened in Midtown Manhattan. So many players. Willis Reed coming out of the tunnel, Michael Jordan making the Garden his home, Reggie Miller taunting Spike Lee, the Big East Conference tournament every year, and on and on. Whether you hate New York or not, for whatever reason, MSG is the most famous arena in the world for a reason: Because it is. The Chance I will Ever See a Basketball Game at MSG: 100%

5. Fenway Park: Want to laugh? I’ve been to Dolphin Stadium to see the Marlins as many times as I’ve been to Fenway to see the Red Sox. Twice. And even though I have my qualms with the price to see a game at Fenway, I cannot deny the fact that Fenway is special. It has quirks that no ballpark today has. Garage doors in the outfield (my favorite part), a triangle in centerfield, a wall in right that may be 6 inches high, a wall in left field that is 37 feet high, a pole located about 20 feet from home plate that just barely sits in fair territory, and on and on. So despite the .406 club (or whatever it’s called now) and the “Monstah Seats,” and all of the add-ons that the new management have brought in to Fenway, it’s still an incredibly special place in the annals of American Sport.

4. Yankee Stadium: It’s not necessarily done on purpose here, but these teams are always together, it seems. Another great anomaly is that I have never been to Yankee Stadium, though that will hopefully change on Sunday night when I get to see the Subway Series in person (barring my death or illness). Yankee Stadium ranks ahead of Fenway because of the Yankee legacy, which is greater (there is NO ARGUMENT ABOUT THIS…NONE) than the Red Sox’s legacy. 26 world championships. Babe Ruth, Micky Mantle, Whitey Ford, Joe DiMaggio, Derek Jeter, and on and on. They all played on this grass. Lou Gherig’s famed “Today…” speech occurred here. And then there’s the ridiculous stuff: Jeffrey Maier robbing Tony Torrasco in the 1996 playoffs comes to mind. The facade, monument park, and Ronan Tynan singing “God Bless America.” Yes, it’s all overstated, but it’s New York City. The Yankees are a perfect reflection of their city and Yankee Stadium is accordingly, a great place for the Yankees to live.

3. Wrigley Field: The Cubs haven’t won a World Series on this field in over 100 years. They don’t have the legendary players like the Yankees. They are, after all, the “lovable losers.” Wrigley is another venue that I’ve seen, but haven’t experienced. Wrigley Field is so different from anything (even Fenway) that we see today. The park is actually located in a neighborhood. There’s a 7-11 right next to it. There are apartments beyond the outfield, across the street. There is something about a Day Game at Wrigley that just has a ring to it. Even when the Cubbies are bad, the seats are filled at Wrigley. Even when they’re playing a game at 1 in the afternoon on a Wednesday, the seats are filled. Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park have undergone great upgrades and changes since they were build. Wrigley hasn’t. It is the last remaining true “ballpark.” And I cannot wait until I get to sit in the bleachers on a weekday afternoon and soak up sun with the “bleacher bums.” Chance I Get to See the Cubs At Wrigley: 95%. There’s just some hesitance to make it 100. I almost don’t want to jinx it.

2. Augusta National: You’re probably thinking, “A Golf Course? You’re not even a golf fan! How can a GOLF COURSE be, in your opinion, the second biggest Mecca in American Sport?!?!” Quite honestly, I don’t have a response. Augusta is one of those places that no one says, “Oh, we should take a road trip there!” However, find someone who can find anything wrong with it. Fenway has poles in front of seats. Yankee Stadium has a Tier that is located just past the Ozone Layer. Cameron Indoor Stadium reaches a temperature of approximately 373 Kelvin. Augusta is, by all account, a perfect place. Add to that the world’s most prestigious golf tournament and really, do I need to validate myself? There is, sadly, no chance I ever get to attend the Masters at Augusta.

1. Lambeau Field: I hate the Packers. Never liked them. Perhaps that’s because I’ve never been to Green Bay, Wisconsin. To attend a Packers game is to be a member of an exclusive group. If I had my choice to attend any sporting event (non-championship) it would be a Packers’ home game. And sadly, for me, if there was a number below 0, that would be the percentage chance that I will ever get that opportunity. Green Bay Packer football means more to the residents of Green Bay than any team means to their city. More than the Sox to Boston. Or the Yankees to New York. Or the Lakers to Los Angeles.

Game O’ The Day: Boston @ Cleveland. Cavs win by 12. I hate Glenn Rivers.